Italy: Announced investigation into Google for alleged misuse of data for commercial purposes

On 20 August 2020, the Italian competition and markets authority (Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato- CMA) opened a preliminary investigation into Google over alleged violations of the Italian Consumer Code and data protection regulations. The investigation concerns Google's collection and processing of users' data for commercial purposes. Firstly, CMA alleges that Google collected and processed users' data without providing precise and complete information regarding its intention to use the data for research and development of Google accounts and for giving access to various services offered by Google. Secondly, it was alleged that Google used an opt-out method for obtaining consent for the use of user data for commercial purposes.